Microsoft launched its first in-house tablet in late October, the Surface RT. Priced at $499 for a 32GB model, initial sales have been on the tepid side. However, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is confident that the device will catch on in the face of strong competition from iOS and Android tablets.

While Surface RT is based on low-power ARM architecture, Microsoft is bringing out the big guns in 2013. Microsoft announced today that Surface Pro, which comes packin' Windows 8 Professional, will launch in January. Unlike Surface RT, Surface Pro will be compatible with the vast library of legacy Windows applications thanks to its Intel Core i5 x86 processor.

Other niceties include a 10.6" ClearType display (1920x1080) and a full-size USB 3.0 port. The Surface Pro also includes a Mini DisplayPort that supports external resolutions of up to 2560x1440.

Since the Surface Pro is packing some serious firepower under the screen, it's a bit thicker and heavier than its Surface RT counterpart. The Surface RT is 0.37" thick and weighs 1.5 pounds, while the Surface Pro is 0.57" thick and weighs 1.99 pounds.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the Surface Pro won't be a cheap proposition. The 64GB Surface Pro rings in at $899 while the 128GB model will set you back $999.

Agreed. Haswell should be out by then and battery life should improve. But with a larger battery and roughly the same hardware as a Macbook Air, we'll see. Obviously you're trading power and performance over battery life with the Pro.

With a roughly 30% larger battery on the Pro vs the RT, it might do ok on battery life.